The sheer scale of the achievement is still sinking in for teenage British gymnast Abi Martin. Just days after becoming a senior world medallist for the first time, the 17-year-old from Paignton, Devon admits the reality has yet to fully hit home. Winning a bronze medal in the floor exercise at the World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia last month was a dream realised, and the physical proof – a hefty world medal – is never far from her sight.
"It just feels a bit surreal, still," Martin confesses with a smile during an exclusive interview with The Independent. "Every time I see it around, I just kind of put it on and look at it. I don't think it's really sunk in." The novelty of wearing the medal around the house hasn't worn off either, a triumphant reminder of her stunning success at her very first senior world championships.
A Whirlwind Ascent to the Podium
Martin's breakthrough in Jakarta was multifaceted. Not only did she secure a podium finish on the floor, but she also delivered a brilliant performance in the all-around final, finishing an impressive eighth out of 24 competitors. This caps off a whirlwind period for the athlete, who competed at the Paris Olympics last year before even receiving her GCSE results.
Despite being just 17, Martin found herself in a position of leadership within the fledgling GB squad, a role she shared with 18-year-old Ruby Evans, who won silver on the floor. Watching fellow Brits Jake Jarman and Luke Whitehouse claim gold and silver in the men's floor final the day before her own event provided a powerful spark of inspiration. "I was like, ‘oh, I want to win a world medal one day’," Martin recalls. "And then when I saw Jake the next day, he was like, ‘well that didn't take very long, did it?’"
Overcoming Adversity: Injury and Mental Blocks
The path to the podium was far from smooth. The build-up to the World Championships was marred by a six-month layoff due to injuries to both ankles, which occurred shortly after her Olympic debut in Paris. This physical setback coincided with a challenging period of mental blocks, a phenomenon similar to the 'twisties' famously experienced by Simone Biles.
"I think the hardest part for me was coming back from the Olympics and having all the fire in my belly... and then to find out that I've got to have that time off," Martin explains. Being restricted to training mostly on the uneven bars "messed with me," she admits, affecting her mental approach to the sport. Her decision to speak openly about these struggles on social media was driven by a desire to normalise the conversation for younger gymnasts.
Embracing a New Role and Looking Ahead
Martin's rapid rise has thrust her into the spotlight as a role model, a status she finds "a bit strange" but embraces. She recalls being "swarmed" by young fans at the British nationals, a moment that brought her influence into sharp focus. With a world medal already secured at the start of the new Olympic cycle, her confidence is soaring.
"One of my main goals for this cycle leading up to the Olympics was to win a world medal," she states. Having achieved that goal so swiftly, her focus now shifts to the future. "I think my main goal now is to just see where this can take me." For a athlete who has already scaled such heights, the possibilities seem limitless, marking the arrival of a new star in British gymnastics.
